Study of defect types and room-temperature ferromagnetism in undoped rutile TiO2 single crystals postprint

Abstract: Room-temperature ferromagnetism has been experimentally observed in annealed rutile TiO2 single crystals when magnetic field is applied parallel to the sample plane. By combining X-ray absorption near edge structure spectrum and positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy, Ti3+-VO defect complexes (or clusters) have been identified in annealed crystals at high vacuum. We elucidate that the unpaired 3d electrons in Ti3+ ions provide the observed room-temperature ferromagnetism. Besides, excess oxygen ions in TiO2 lattice could induce a number of Ti vacancies which increase magnetic moments obviously.